FARM CELEBRATIONS
Our farm
celebrations are traditionally held around the Summer Solstice, the Fall
Equinox and Halloween. Each celebration carries its own flavor and is open
to CSA members and their friends. These events are free of charge, and members
pitch in to help with event set-up and organization. They are truly a community
effort. The central theme of our Celebrations is food (whether still growing
or cooked and served at the potluck table -- about 30 feet long and getting
longer every year!), and general thankfulness to the Earth and the bounty
which it provides. We always have music at our celebrations -- sometimes
it is The Banana Slug String Band (a favorite of the children, and the 'Slugs'
are even members of our CSA!), sometimes it is Kuzanga Marimba, an 8-piece
Marimba ensemble (check out our Fall
2002 Celebration!). We even had a funk-band playing into the evening
once with lots of dancing. Sometimes members bring instruments and we make
our own music! Farm activities are plentiful too: ice cream making, apple
pressing (fall), pizza and bread making and baking in our wood-fired oven,
walking tours of the farm, berry picking and eating... the children especially
love climbing on our huge hay-bale structure, exploring our pond (tadpoles
in the spring!), and meeting and petting the farm animals.
We ask that you do not bring your dogs with you to our celebrations. Please
leave them at home.
Scheduling and cost: No need to RSVP,
and there is no "payment" except to bring something to share in
the potluck!
See our Calendar
of Events for this year's scheduled Celebrations.
MINI-CAMP
Since 1999, CSA members have come
with their children to join us for a week-end "camping" stay at
the farm. This once-a-year event is designed so participants can experience
the farm and its peacefulness without the concern of having to drive home
at the end of the day. Equipped with baskets, we spend our days harvesting,
tasting and discovering the magnificent diversity of fruits, vegetables and
herbs growing on the farm, and preparing a meal from the bounty we harvested.
This process is at the same time ambitious and fun, compelling all participants
to explore all corners of the land.
It is a time to enjoy being together, to meet other CSA members, and to allow
the children to set the pace. Farm games such as finding the 'weirdest'
most interesting, bizarre-looking fruit or vegetable are popular, and so
is pizza making (in our wood-fired oven) with freshly-harvested crops.
Our hide-and-seek by moonlight in the orchard has become a tradition among
mini-campers! Visits to the farm animals (chickens, goats) is a must, to
make sure that no living creature is left out of the party!
Scheduling: Typically
we start on Friday evening (generally around the last week-end of July/first
week-end of August -- see our Calendar
of Events for this year's schedule) with a pot-luck at around 7pm, and
continue until Sunday noon. Farmer Tom's wife, Constance, organizes 'everything
mini-camp'. You can email her at broz@baymoon.com.
Please be sure to put the words "Mini-Camp" in the subject line
of your email!
Cost: Historically
it has been $40 per adult and $20 per child, with a maximum of $100 per family,
and included all the meals except the Friday evening pot-luck. Check with
Constance for the current cost though. Fees are intended to cover the costs
of using the space, of food, and for keeping Farmer Tom on the farm instead
of away at the weekend farmer's markets (hence we must pay for someone else
to go in his place!).
WORKSHOPS
The farm is
always available as a resource for CSA members to explore their farm-related
interests. Members are encouraged to plan and organize workshops at the farm.
Our most exciting community-led workshop was the building of a wood-fired bread
oven in 2001, since baptized "Toastie" for the sleeping lizard-dragon
sculpted atop the oven. (Click here
if you wish to read and see pictures on this event.) This oven is now famous
for its seemingly unending capacity to generate warm breads and pizzas during
our celebrations! We are looking forward to the next creation!
Scheduling and cost: Our Workshops are member-driven,
so If you have an idea for a special workshop, simply contact us to make arrangements.
This is a very flexible and customizable program! The main requirement is
simply that you coordinate with us on timing around other events at the farm
so there is no scheduling conflict. Cost is fully negotiable.
See
our Calendar of Events for this
year's scheduled Workshops.
FIELD TRIPS
Our field
trips offer a variety of hands-on learning experiences for school (and other)
groups. We
emphasize a "seed to mouth" or "field to fork" full circle
understanding of food production. We strive to share an ethic of environmental
stewardship, which is exemplified in organic farming practices. (Click
here to
read a teacher's letter to us.)
Activities on the Farm: Field trip activities
vary according to season and are tailored to students' age group incorporating
California Science Content Standards. Possible
activities for your group include seed planting and plant propagation, interactions
with and care for farm animals, composting, organic pest control, harvesting
and tasting, as well as an exploration of how and why things are grown organically. We
welcome input from teachers on how to integrate field trip activities with
their students' curricula, and so will gladly customize your field trip to
suit your needs.
Duration and Group Size: Field trips are
typically two to three hours in length and your group is invited to bring a
picnic lunch to enjoy at the farm following the event. If you
are interested in experiencing the delight of eating seasonal and local food,
please let us know so we can help you plan and source your picnic menu. We
have found that we are best prepared to offer a rich and focused experience
to single class groups; however larger groups and trips of longer duration
(even camp-outs) can be accommodated by special arrangement.
Scheduling and Cost: Live Earth Farm offers
field trips to schools and other groups from April through October (maximum
of 36 students/children in any one group please). Please consult the
Live Earth Learning calendar (below) for available dates. We schedule
only two field trips per week and the schedule fills up quickly, so if you
would like to set one up, contact us early in the season for the
best availability. Cost is $7-$10 per student, however our
commitment to community outreach allows for reduced rates to a
limited number of groups that could not otherwise attend. We
will also gladly accept more generous contributions that will go
to maintaining this program for future visitors.
See
calendar below to check for available field trip dates, then email our
Education Programs Coordinator, Jessica, at LEFeducation-at-baymoon-dot-com.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Since 2000,
the farm has been blessed by the visit of groups of teenagers interested
in getting 'a real farm experience'. Groups generally stay for a about a
week, and camp around the farm, and participate in hands-on farm activities.
In both 2000 and 2001, we hosted a group of about 10 teenagers from the Watts-area
of Los Angeles, and in 2002 we welcomed about the same number from all over
the US through a program called "Global Routes" (click
here to see a little bit about their visit).
Scheduling and cost: Scheduling is flexible,
and cost is generally adjusted based upon groups' ability to pay. Contact
us by
email or phone at (831) 763-2448
if you wish to set up a special visit.
FARM APPRENTICESHIPS
Description: Live Earth Farm, established
in 1996, is a 45-acre organic farm overlooking the Pajaro Valley in the Santa
Cruz area of California. We offer a year-round
CSA with over 600 members during the regular season. Our Environmental
Education programs include 1-2 apprenticeships per year, from May to October. Our
apprentices work on all aspects of our farm. In the area of vegetable and
fruit production tasks include: seeding, planting, weeding, harvesting, washing,
packing, and selling, the entire seed to market cycle. We have chickens
and goats, for whom we will need someone to help with feeding, milking, collecting
eggs, etc. We also provide opportunities to get involved in our Environmental
Education programs .
Qualifications: Prior experience is not necessary,
however a desire to participate in all activities on the farm is a must. This
is a learning experience; we expect you to arrive with a good work ethic and
a positive attitude. Please be aware that farming is hard work and we require
a full season commitment. We offer you an eye into the life of a farmer,
and a solid knowledge base to pursue such interests.
Duration: We ask that you arrive on the farm in the beginning of May. This
gives Farmer Tom an opportunity to work with you one-on-one before the busiest
part of the season begins. We ask that you stay through the end of October so
that you have a chance to be honored at our Fall Harvest Celebration.
Hours: 40
hrs/wk
Compensation: A private room and communal
kitchen, a stipend of $400/month and all of the fruit, vegetables, eggs, and
goat’s milk you could want.
Application
Procedure : To apply please send an e-mail describing your interests and why you would like
to be an intern at Live Earth Farm to:
Jessica Ridgeway
LEFeducation-at-baymoon-dot-com
Or call: (831) 763-2448
PERMACULTURE
The Mataganza
Garden Sanctuary is an
ongoing project here at Live Earth Farm. It is a place where the community
can discover, apply, and celebrate the universal principles and dynamics
of Nature. Come participate in the creation of this one acre permaculture-inspired
ethno-botanical garden sanctuary and learn...
<> Permaculture design
<>Agroforestry
<>Aesthetic design
<>Local ecology
<>Terraforming
<>Plant propagation
<>Water harvesting, storage and use strategies
<>Soil farming/growing fertility on-site
<>Energetics of natural systems
<>Implementation techniques
Expand your experience and knowledge
in these areas via our garden internship in exchange for time and labor on
the project. In addition to on-going projects in the garden (planting, mulching,
propagation, and infrastucture), we have been figuring out what can be produced
from the plants we have in the garden thus far. Our primary focus has been
herbal products such as tinctures, essential oils, and teas, as well as natural
dyes.
This internship can be done
for college credit. Please see
our Calendar of Events for a current
schedule, or contact
our resident permaculturalist, Brian Barth, at 831.566.3336 or edenfruits2002@yahoo.com for
further information, or if you have any questions.
COMMENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY
Dear Tom and Constance,
Thank you! We had no idea just what an incredible experience to expect. The
kids got so much out of your graciously planned field study. They learned a
great deal and came away with "When can we come back and learn more?" This turned out to be the best (most educational, kid friendly, hands-on, fun)
field trip I've taken my class on in years. Thank You!!!
The children had a first-hand experience of the farmer's land-food-people connection.
This awareness is so crucial in our time when children think that food magically
appears in packages, cans and boxes. It was heartwarming to see our children
running around the farm complete with baby goats, a pony, and a duck pond while
appreciating the farmer's hard work, the bounty and the wonder of it all. Most
important though was the chance for us all to feel our connection to the beauty,
support, and sustenance which Mother Nature provides under our every step.
